Sleeping lorry driver who killed council worker avoids jail term

A LORRY driver who fell asleep at the wheel and ploughed into two vehicles causing the death of a county council worker and seriously injuring two colleagues has walked free from court.

Vlastimil Zachar’s lorry smashed into a flatbed truck and a JCB on the hard shoulder, killing Pádraig Noone, 63, and injuring Anthony Fehily and Damien Davey on August 13, 2015 at Castlebaldwin in Co. Sligo.

Zacher, 43, of Connell Drive in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, smashed into the vehicles while falling asleep and was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnoea after the accident. Yesterday he was given a seven-year driving disqualification and €4,000 fine.

In passing down sentence after a three-week trial at Sligo Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford said that the sentence ‘doesn’t reflect the tragedy’.

In their victim impact statements, Mr Noone’s wife Collette, and daughters, Elaine Kelly and Linda Noone, spoke of the devastation caused by his death.

Collette Noone said in her statement that her marriage had ‘come to an abrupt end at Sligo University Hospital’. She said that the loss of her husband had impacted both her physical and mental health.

Statements were also given to the court by Damien Davey and Anthony Fehily. Mr Fehily said he had to wear a brace for four months. Mr Davey told the court in his statement that he was in a wheelchair for a year and had to learn how to walk again. Defence Barrister Elaine O’Leary said that Zachar no longer drives and that the accident ‘will stay with him forever’.